Sunday, June 17

Beer Review: New Belgium/Elysian Brewing Trip Series Farmhouse Ale

What’s this Trip about?Described as an artisanal collaboration, New Belgium and Elysian are
brewing limited small batches together. We’ve described this adventure
as The Trip Series. By joining, we have the ability to increase
efficiency, encourage creative experimentation, and take a trip into the
future of American craft brewing. The Trip beers will only be available
in draft and 22oz bottles in the Northwest states....

Smell: (3.5)
- Loverly herbal aromas from the sage and rosemary. Earthy, grassy, and quite floral. Not much as far as malt sweetness, just a bit bready and tart.

Taste: (3.0)
- Pretty heavy malt sweetness, some brown sugars, candy sugar, and a slight hopping which is grassy and earthy. Big sage flavor and rosemary as well. Almost a bit too sweet for me, not bready and biscuit-like enough, and a little too heavy on the herbs.

Mouth Feel: (3.0)
- Slightly drying, well carbonated medium bodied brew. Almost too carbonated. Bit chewy as well, and in a way kind of hard to drink.

Overall: (3.0)
- This beer for me just really isn't that good. I've had my share of farmhouse ales, and this just doesn't come that close to what I think the style should be. Too heavy on the herbal notes, and still overly sweet. For me, I think the yeast should destroy most of the sugars in its flavor.